Method of preventing moisture-containing material from freezing to the sides of a receptacle.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SYLVESTER G. STEVENS, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

METHOD OF PREVENTING MOISTURE-CONTAINING- MATERIAL FROM FREEZING TO THE SIDES OF A RECEPTAGLE.

Application filed January 16, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLVESTER G. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Preventing Moistum-Containing Material from Freezing to the Sides of a Receptacle, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in method of preventing moisture-containing material from freezing to the sides of a receptacle.

My invention pertains more particularly to ore cars and in whichit has been found that ore, during transportation, freezes to the sides and bottom of the car, and forms a solid mass therewith and makes it impossible to remove the contents of the car. It has also been sought to obviate these difliculties by providing a suitable heating means to prevent the freezing of the material in the car during transportation, or providing means for heating the cars at the end of the journey, so that the material will be thawed from the inner face of the car. All of these methods are expensive and require a specifically constructed car, or take considerable time to thaw the material from the faces of the car, all of which are objectionable.

My invention consists in applying a nonfreezing material to the entire inner face of the car, just previous to the placing of the moisture containing material therein, such as oil, and preferably crude petroleum, as it is cheaper and reduces the cost of the method, and petroleum contains all of the required. qualifications to accomplish .the desired re sults, but as above stated, any oil will accomplish the result. Petroleum as is well known, is a volatile oil, and as above stated, it is necessary to coat the inside of the car or vehicle with the oil, just previous or a few minutes before the moisture-containing material is placed. therein. Thus the oil does not have time to evaporate, and after the ore or material is placed therein it covers the oil and prevents any evaporation thereof. Oil

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

Serial No. 352,653.

being impervious to moisture, the moisturecontaining material cannot possibly freeze to the sides of the car. The non-freezing material may be applied to the car in the easiest and cheapest manner, as will be governed by circumstances.

My method is more particularly adapted for metal hopper bottom dumping cars for the transportation of ore, all of which contain more or less moisture, and when subj ected to extreme cold freeze solid to the in- Her face of the ear, and prevent the cars from being dumped. My invention is equally adapted for cars of any character or material or a vehicle or receptacle where the material therein contains moisture, and it is subjected to cold, and is liable to freeze to the inner face thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The herein described method of preventing moisture containing material from freezing to the inner face of a receptacle, consisting of coating the inner face of the receptacle with a non-freezing material and immediately thereafter placing the m oisturecontaining material within the receptacle.

2. The herein-described method of preventing moisture containing material from freezing to the inner face of a receptacle, con sisting of coating the inner face of the receptacle with oil, and immediately thereafter placing the moisture-containing material within the receptacle.

3. The herein-described method of preventing moisture-containing material from freezing to the inner face of a receptacle, consisting of coating, the inner face of the receptacle with petroleum, and immediately thereafter placing the moisture-containing material within the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DONALD MGLENNAN, JOHN MoNAenAN. 

